Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday described the Northeast as India’s “growth engine,” highlighting a year of record achievements in investment, infrastructure, governance, and connectivity. He was addressing a joint media briefing on the one-year achievements (August 2024-September 2025) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications.
The event, attended by Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Education and DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, and MDoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar, showcased the region’s transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The Northeast today represents the spirit of a new India – empowered, connected, and future-ready. Guided by the Prime Minister’s vision, the region has transformed from a frontier into a front-runner,” Scindia said.
MDoNER reported its highest-ever expenditure of ₹3,447.71 crore in FY 2024–25 – a 74.4% increase over the previous year and more than 200% growth in three years. The Ministry credited digital monitoring through the Poorvottar Vikas Setu portal and stricter fiscal discipline for achieving 97% project inspection coverage and 91% operationalization of completed projects.
MDoNER has also introduced Chief Minister-led Sectoral High-Level Task Forces across eight key sectors – including tourism, agriculture, handicrafts, infrastructure and investment – to drive inter-state collaboration. Infrastructure approvals such as the Shillong Airport expansion, alternative alignment to NH-10 in Sikkim, and Kailashahar Airport development in Tripura have been fast-tracked through an inter-ministerial mechanism.
The region saw unprecedented investment commitments this year. The Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 in New Delhi drew eight Chief Ministers, eight Union Ministers, over 100 ambassadors, and 108 PSUs, securing commitments worth ₹4.48 lakh crore. The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav in December 2024 generated ₹2,326 crore in investment leads, while a banking conclave in Agartala led to commitments for new branches, ATM networks, and expanded MSME credit access.
Through North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi), more than 5,300 MSMEs received support, mobilizing ₹766 crore for start-ups and enterprises across the region.
MDoNER has launched a unified Brand Northeast strategy to position the region as a global tourism destination. States are promoting unique products such as Muga Silk from Assam, Lakadong Turmeric from Meghalaya, Polo from Manipur, and Queen Pineapple from Tripura.
Eight iconic tourism sites – including Kaziranga, Ziro, Sohra, Thenzawl, Matabari, Kisama, Namchi, and Moirang – are being developed as world-class attractions under public-private partnerships. Tourism initiatives have already contributed to a 45% increase in rural incomes.
Connectivity has seen a dramatic expansion. “As compared to just nine airports earlier, the region now has 17, including four in Arunachal Pradesh. All Northeast states will be connected by rail by 2029,” Scindia said, adding that projects like the Kaladan and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway will position the region as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia.
The government is also diversifying the region’s economy through agriculture and industry. Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm, more than 68,000 hectares have been brought under cultivation.
The Agarwood sector has seen a six-fold rise in export quota, while the bamboo sector – through 22 projects worth ₹126.7 crore – has trained 2,587 artisans and created Amazon-linked market access models. These efforts are boosting rural entrepreneurship and export capacity.
Scindia emphasized that the Northeast’s young population, high literacy rate, and strategic location give it unmatched potential. “With 70% of its people below 28 years, the Northeast is not just participating in India’s growth story – it is driving it,” he said.
He added that the region is no longer seen as India’s periphery but as a critical gateway to growth, trade, and global engagement.